{"id":46703,"date":"2023-05-02T14:30:38","date_gmt":"2023-05-02T05:30:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=46703"},"modified":"2023-05-02T17:02:21","modified_gmt":"2023-05-02T08:02:21","slug":"vomk-report-252","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2023\/05\/02\/vomk-report-252\/","title":{"rendered":"BURKINA FASO: AS JIHADISTS ATTACKS INCREASE, VOM LAUNCHES MAJOR BIBLE DISTRIBUTION"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”46699″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”More than 10,000 Christians in Burkina Faso have now been driven from their homes due to the violence of ISIS and al-Qaida. The believers are part of an estimated 2.3 million people displaced by jihadist attacks across West Africa. With the United Nations estimating 20% of the population of Burkina Faso now needing humanitarian aid, international groups are mobilizing to provide food, water, and shelter.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” el_class=”headline”][vc_column_text]But according to Voice of the Martyrs Representative Dr<\/span>.<\/span> Hyun Sook Foley, one <\/span>overlooked need is now being met.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>During the intense persecution, many of these Christian families lost their most treasured possession \u2013 their family Bible<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]N<\/span>ow, <\/span>thanks to a fundraising campaign conducted by Voice of the Martyrs, <\/span>these Christians are <\/span>receiving <\/span>Bibles, not only for their families, but also to give to their unsaved neighbors.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”46695″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\u201c<\/span>We are partnering with local Burkina Faso church leaders to provide each family with two Bibles \u2013 one for their families and another for evangelism<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>She says her organization transferred funds this month to <\/span>print and distribute <\/span>more than 1,400 Bibles\u2014twice the campaign goal. These funds will be added to contributions from other Voice of the <\/span>Martyrs<\/span> organizations around the world to <\/span>provide<\/span> more than <\/span>5,4<\/span>00<\/span> Bibles<\/span> to local believers.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that with the last French soldiers leaving the country and January 2023 described by Burkina Faso officials as the deadliest month in the country\u2019s history, <\/span>even some Christians question whether the time is right to send Bibles.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Too often we Christians have a wrong thinking that Bible distribution must wait or be postponed until a conflict or war is over, as if political peace <\/span>and humanitarian aid are<\/span> necessary to first <\/span>make an area \u2018safe\u2019 for the Bible,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201c<\/span>But the Word of God teaches that man cannot live by bread alone, and that is true even during a war. Conflicts like this can go on for a long time. If all that is <\/span>provided<\/span> is humanitarian aid, <\/span>a whole generation of Christians grows up without biblical teaching. And it is that teaching\u2014love your neighbor, turn the other cheek, forgive\u2014that can put broken countries and relationships between citizens back together in healthy ways. Jihadists target and kill Christians because they consider Christians to be infidels. But the Bible says that a drought of God\u2019s word is to be feared more than anything.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”46686″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”A burned-out transport bus after a recent jihadist attack in Burkina Faso.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that Voice of the Martyrs Korea sees Bible distribution in major zones of conflict as one of the ministry\u2019s core competencies and most important <\/span>responsibilities<\/span>. \u201cVoice of the Martyrs <\/span>Korea <\/span>is not a mission organization but instead a partner with <\/span>local <\/span>Christians <\/span>living under persecution or pressure<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Any<\/span> time <\/span>a major conflict threatens an area, that\u2019s when people <\/span>in that area <\/span>instinctively turn to God and <\/span>become open to the Bible.<\/span> They\u2019re<\/span> looking for hope. <\/span>Sometimes missionary organizations evacuate their personnel in such times<\/span>, or they urge their missionaries to<\/span> be<\/span> cautious<\/span>. But local Christians have nowhere to go<\/span>, nowhere to hide<\/span>. <\/span>Even as refugees, they still have to find <\/span>work and <\/span>provide food <\/span>to<\/span> their families <\/span>and <\/span>gather <\/span>as<\/span> church. <\/span>God <\/span>then seems to <\/span>give<\/span> these ordinary local Christians a special boldness <\/span>to preach the gospel and share the Bible<\/span> with their neighbors.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley said that local believers\u2019 requests for two Bibles\u2014one for their own family and one to share with a non-Christian family in personal evangelistic outreach\u2014motivated Voice of the Martyrs Korea to <\/span>participate<\/span> in the campaign to raise funds for Bibles. \u201cThese Burkina Faso believers rightly value the <\/span>W<\/span>ord of God,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201cEven as jihadists continue to hunt them down, they are focused not on their own safety but on glorifying God by spreading his word.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”46689″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Religious extremists attacked this church, destroying equipment and burning 400 Bibles” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Voice of the Martyrs Korea\u2019s statistics <\/span>indicate<\/span> that <\/span>Protestants compose <\/span>only <\/span>6% of Burkina Faso\u2019s population<\/span>. According to Representative Foley, they have been under growing persecution since 2016\u2014a fact not well known to Christians globally.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cJust this week I met with a <\/span>Korean <\/span>pastor <\/span>who was not aware that Burkina Faso Christians were being persecuted,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201cWhen I asked the source of his information, he said it was a missionary who had served there 20 years ago. But as I explained to the pastor, <\/span>Burkina Faso has seen a sharp rise in Islamist activity since 2016. Militants linked to ISIS and al-Qaida, who had been <\/span>largely contained<\/span> in neighboring Mali and Niger, have crossed porous borders in the north to broaden their influence in the Sahel region. Christians have been a primary target of the jihadists\u2019 campaign since April 2019, when approximately 70 Christians were\u202f<\/span>killed<\/span>\u202fand five churches were attacked.<\/span> More than 200 churches have\u202f<\/span>reportedly closed<\/span> in northern and eastern Burkina Faso due to security issues and threat of attack.<\/span> That\u2019s<\/span> why <\/span>it\u2019s<\/span> important for Christians to stay up to date on persecution information: If Christians rely on outdated information, then our brothers and sisters are deprived of the prayers the Bible commands us to pray on behalf of those suffering because of their testimony for Christ.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”46692″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Christians in Burkina Faso receive Bibles” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says Christians can pray the following for believers in Burkina Faso:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]– Pray for believers encircled by jihadists. May God give them strength and boldness to trust in him and not deny him even in the worst trial.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

– Pray for those who’ve lost their loved ones.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

– Pray for God’s wisdom to continue the ministry to Burkina Faso believers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

– Pray for the evangelistic efforts of Burkina Faso believers as they distribute the Bibles from Voice of the Martyrs to their unbelieving neighbors.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Individuals interested in more information about Christian persecution in Burkina Faso can visit <\/span><\/span>https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/burkina-faso\/<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”46699″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”More than 10,000 Christians in Burkina Faso have now been driven from their homes due to the violence of ISIS and al-Qaida. The believers are part of …","protected":false},"author":659,"featured_media":46700,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[857,235,869,140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46703","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-russian-special","category-special-column","category-china-special","category-vomk-report"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.2","language":"en","enabled_languages":["ko","en","zh","ru"],"languages":{"ko":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"zh":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"ru":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46703","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/659"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46703"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46703\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46718,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46703\/revisions\/46718"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46703"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46703"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46703"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}